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. You can buy ready-made sedum matting, which you simply cut to size and roll out.Bird tablePlastic sheetingWater-retentive mattingTape measureGalvanised tacks1m of 50mm x 12mm timber battenScrews and screwdriverSedum mattingSlow-release fertiliserspring

with snow. My advice would be to hold off until mid-March.I've just finished pruning the myrtles. Myrtle is a wonderful herb, not only for the beauty of the flowers, but also for the amazing aromas and flavours it creates in the kitchen. You can't go wrong

. Annual nemesias tend to flush with flowers, but they can be nudged back into bloom by cutting the flower stems back just above the foliage. Pinch out dead petunias and remove any blemished leaves from the helichrysum.May - JuneJune - August60 minutes

garden hedgesAround the gardenTake cuttings from shrubsPrune out plain green shoots from variegated trees and shrubsCut lavender for drying when in full flowerFlowersHarvest onions sown last autumn for early cropsWater celery regularly in dry weather

Grow dahlias for cut flowersGrow exotic plants from seedGrow lilies from bulbilsPlant eucomis

Will our love affair with Verbena bonariensis ever wane? This fabulous flower looks as good growing individually among low border plants as it does planted en masse. The open, airy quality of the stems only adds to the appeal. Wildlife loves V

The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy (Viola) are the best bet for winter and spring containers as they're rarely without blooms, even when other plants are shivering in the cold. The flowers look stunning set off against the golden foliage

cover.More summer container displaysPotting up a summer display of scabious and thrift.Creating a summer cutting patch.Growing summer-flowering plants to attract bees.Planting ideas for late-summer colour.Learn how to plant up a summer hanging basket.

Alliums are spectacular plants and it's worth saving a few seeds to sow in the spring to grow some more for the garden. The seeds will germinate quickly and reach flowering size in a couple of years.SecateursPaper envelopesSeptember - October20

. In general, the bigger and plumper the bulb, the better. It needs to be firm and undamaged. If there's brown rot at the base of the bulb, don't buy it. Blue mould may appear on tissue that has been slightly damaged, but you can cut it away with a clean, sharp